Mental Adjustment to Cancer: The Role of Anxious and Depressive Symptoms under Treatment

Abstract

The improvement of mental adjustment to illness is directly related to the decrease of anxious-depressive symptoms among depressed cancer patients under antidepressant therapy.

Development and validation of the National Cancer Center Psychological Symptom Inventory

“…Known‐group validity of the anxiety and depression items was supported with significantly higher scores of helplessness/hopelessness and anxious preoccupation on the MINI‐Mental Adjustment to Cancer in the NCC‐PSI–defined depression and anxiety diagnosis group, in line with the finding that decreased anxious‐depressive symptoms among patients with cancer is directly associated with improved mental adjustment to cancer …”

“…32 Known-group validity of the anxiety and depression items was supported with significantly higher scores of helplessness/hopelessness and anxious preoccupation on the MINI-Mental Adjustment to Cancer in the NCC-PSI-defined depression and anxiety diagnosis group, in line with the finding that decreased anxious-depressive symptoms among patients with cancer is directly associated with improved mental adjustment to cancer. 33 The NCC-PSI items showed a satisfactory level of screening performance, with the exception of the anxiety items. Severity items generally performed better, and impact did not significantly improve screening ability, except for insomnia.…”

Psychiatric, behavioral, and cognitive disorders in patients with extracranial cancers

“…85,86 The efficacy of antidepressants in oncology is well established on the basis of randomized, controlled studies. [87][88][89] Thekdi et al 90 reported that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) represent the first choice for the treatment of depression and generalized anxiety and the prevention of panic attacks in cancer patient. 90 Benzodiazepines are considered well-tolerated, safe, and effective treatments in the short-term, although their longterm use can induce tolerance and reduced efficacy.…”

“…Recommendations on the use of psychotropic medications in oncologic patients have been formulated by dedicated task forces and guidelines are available 85 86 The efficacy of antidepressants in oncology is well established on the basis of randomized, controlled studies 87 89 Thekdi et al 90 reported that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) represent the first choice for the treatment of depression and generalized anxiety and the prevention of panic attacks in cancer patient 90 .…”

Hospitalization and other risk factors for depressive and anxious symptoms in oncological and non‐oncological patients

“…Many factors may contribute to this wide range of prevalence rates, including the use of different instruments to assess depression with different psychometric properties, the use of different criteria to define depression and differences among cancer type, stage, and treatment modality . On the other hand, clinical experience of cancer is obviously a source of situational anxiety, causing psychological distress, fear, and sadness.…”